Support for materials



March 23, 1943.

J. R. BARLOW SUPPORT FOR MATERIALS Filed Jan. 24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR jjgai Ewan bar;

BY Mwa/MA ATTOR J. R. BARLOW 2,314,473

' SUPPORT. FOR MATERIALS Filed Jan. 24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 23,1943.

Si N

a/ cor H750 WITNESSES:

March 23, 1943.

WITNESSES;

J. R. BARLOW SUPPORT FOR MATERIALS 4 Filed Jan. 24, 1942 4 s eets 'sheets INVENTOR ATTOR March 23, 1943. I J. R. BARLOW 2,314,473

SUPPORT FOR MATER IALS Filed Jan. 24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I f k 26 ,fT 4 i j i if if A, F g

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 Joseph.- R. Barlow, Pittsburgh, Pa assignor ofone-half to. Charles X. Wunderly, Pittsburgh,

Application January 24, 1942; SerialNo. 428,041.

20 Claims.

invention relates. to supports or racks for materials, such as books,magazines, leaflets and newspapers, and has particular relation to theprovision of desirable adjustment features therefor.

Man-y libraries, reading rooms and ofiices are confronted with theproblem of displaying or stacking material, suchas noted above, forconvenient use. If, as is usually the' case, such material is of difierent sizes, some form of adjustment isvery desirable. However; so faras I- amaware, I am the first to provide a materialsupporting devicewith adjustments in all three directions to accommodate differentlengths, widths and thicknesses of material, such as newspapers, books,magazines and leaflets, thus fully meeting the problem andprovidinganeat, effective and fully adequate material-supporting device.

One: object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a support formaterial having certain desirable adjustments for the purpose set forth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. support for materialcomprising a base, together with provision for efifecting both sidewaysadjustments al'ong the base and depth adfi ustments with respect to thebase to accommodate various widths and thicknesses: or positions ofmaterial.

A' further object of my invention is to provide a deviceof the characterset forth above, together withafurther provision for efiecting up and;down adjustments on the base to accommodatevarious lengths ofsaidimateria-l.

A- further object of my invention is to provide such depth adjustmentsin connection with a device having: aseries of'grooves along a verticalside: thereof to assistin accommodating various thicknesses:oi'materialStill another object of myinvention is: to provide: a. device of thecharacter set: forth including. aplurality or sets-oi pinsor the likemovable forward and backward with respect to the base at difierentlevelstosupportmaterial at different distances from the base, thus. providinga series of steps forsupporting materials at different levels withadjacent materials partially overlapping each other. In this way; asequence of leaflets, such as monthly edition-s, may: be compactlystacked andstill they are. readily selectible and replaceable.

Other objects ofmy' invention. will become evident fromfollowing'detailed description, taken in: conjunctionwith the accompanyingdrawings; wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete device. or supportconstructed in accordance with my present invention, with books,leaflets, etc. disposed thereon, the device being mounted: on a stand;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the device itself with.- out any such booksor leaflets disposed thereon;

Figs. 3' and 4' are, respectively, views in front elevation and rearelevation of the base portion of the material-supporting device of Figs;1' and 2;.

Fig. 5 is an end view in plan: and Fig. v6 an end view in perspective ofthe material-supporting device;

Figs. '7 to 12.,inclusive, are views of various details ofthe device;

Fig. 13' is another end view in perspective of thematerial-supportingdevice; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are views of certain modifications of'parts of thedevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the structure: here shown comprisesamaterial-supporting device or rack I, together with a stand or pedestal2 therefor.

The device I comprises a base. 3rhaving: a pluralityoftransversely-extending internal slots 4, these slots each being providedwith two pairs of convex extensions or enlargements 5 in a substantiallyvertical direction, disposed near the respective ends of each of theslots 4 for a purpose to be set forth, grooved or dovetailed: members 6,6a and 61) being. disposed along'the topof each of the slots 4 in therear of. the base 3, such members being separated by the convexextensions 5, and similar grooved or dove-tailed members I, la. and lbbeing disposed on the lower sideof each slot 4. It will be understood.that the grooves in the members 61 and I, for example, face each other;so that a sliding member may be moved therealong, as clearly shown inFig. 6;

Reinforcing blocks 8 and 8a are fastened in a vertical manner to therearside. of thebase 3.below each slot 4 and are pierced by asubstantially vertically disposed series of small holes 9 which extendfrom the blocks through the front face of the base 3, for a purpose tobe set forth; If desired, a heading or flange l0 may be disposed forornamental purposes along the rear edge of the base 3.

A plurality of slidable block structures [5, shown in detail in Figs.10, 11 and 12 and in perspective assembly in Fig; 6, are each providedwith a central tongue or projection [6 on the upper side and a similarcentral tongue or projection- I 1. on the lower side, these tonguesbeing, respectively, adapted to fit into and slide along the grooves indovetailed members 5: and 1... In addition, a large preferably centralaperture I8 extends through the block I from front to rear for thepurpose of receiving another member 20 to be described below, and aplurality (shown as six) of small apertures I3 surrounding said centralaperture I8 also extend through the block from front to rear for thepurpose of receiving other members I4 to be described below.

A plurality of these slidable block structures I5 are disposed alongeach slot 4 for the purpose of providing width adjustment for books,etc., and the end structure in each case may be provided with a lateralor end block member I9, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of coveringthe corresponding end of the slot 4 and providing a more ornamentalappearance.

A corresponding plurality of block structures 20, which fit and slidethrough the large apertures I8 of block structures I5 to provide abackward and forward or depth adjustment, are each provided at theirfront sides with a thin strip or spacer 2| and may be held in anydesired locatlon within the apertures I8 by means of a bent strip spring22 attached to the upper side of each block structure 20 by means of ascrew 23, for example.

The strip or spacer 2| thus acts as a stop with respect to the backwardmovement of block structure 20 and at the same time engages the materialto be supported along one side thereof.

To provide lengthwise adjustment for the books, magazines, etc., aplurality of shelves or ledges 21, which are respectively provided witha series of dowel pins or the like 30, are adapted to be set at variousvertical heights at two different levels, as illustrated in Fig. 1,along the face of base 3 by reason of disposing the dowel pins in theproper sets of small holes 9 in the base 3.

In addition, a pair of vertically spaced relatively narrow shelves orledges 28 and 29 is disposed below the shelf 21 at each of the twolevels illustrated, being likewise movable up or down as desired orreadily removable by reason of the provision of dowel pins 3| and 32like dowel pins 30 in the case of the shelves 21.

If desired, a plurality of beads or flanges extending upwardly ordownwardly or both from the front edges of the shelves 21, 28 and 29 maybe provided, being indicated by the reference characters 33, 34 and 35,respectively.

The width of the ledges or shelves 28 and 29 inside of the beads orflanges 34 and 35, respectively, is substantially the same as the Widthof notch 25 on the inner under side of shelf 21. The notch 25 and theupper side of shelf 28, on the one hand, and also the under side ofshelf 28 and the top side of shelf 29, on the other hand, may thus beutilized for carrying signs ,or information strips when desired, suchmaterial being readily sidable in and out of place, as will beappreciated.

Each of the block structures I5 is preferably provided, in addition tothe large central aperture I8, with a plurality of small holes orapertures I3, in this case six apertures, disposed in horizontal pairsat three different levels on each side of the central aperture I8, asclearly shown in Figs. 10 and 12, for example. It will be noted that thethree levels on each block structure I5 correspond, so that three longhorizontal rows of pins I4 may be provided along each slot 4 in base 3.

Each of these small aperture I3 is adapted to receive a pin or small rodI4 which may be provided with a head 26 of any desired shape, and

the rear end of each pin, after the pin is inserted through thecorresponding hole I3, may be bent at substantially right angles, asshown. The purpose of the head 26, shown as a single vertical memberattached at substantially its mid point to the body of the pin, i toserve as a flange, when the body of the pin is used as a shelf, toprevent material from slipping forwardly off the pin and, at the sametime, the head 26 may be utilized as a handle for moving the pinforwardly and backwardly through the corresponding hole I3 to disposethe head of the pin at a selected distance in front of the base.

The purpose of the bent rear end of each pin is to prevent the pin frombeing accidentally withdrawn through the hole I3 as the pin is adjustedforwardly or backwardly.

-The device I may be assembled as follows: A suitable number, shown inFigs. 1 and 2 as five, of the block structures I5 are inserted in placealong each slot 4 by slipping them diagonally through the convexextensions or enlargements 5;of the slots 4 into a position where thecentral tongues I6 and I1 are respectively disposed in the grooves ofdovetailed members 6 and 1, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.The three central block structures are of the type shown in Fig. 12, forexample, while the two end block structures are of a similar character,plus the addition of the side blocks I9 for a purpose already described.The variou pins I4 may then be placed in the holes I3 of blockstructures I5, as previously described.

'One of the block structures 20 is then slid backwardly through thelarge aperture I8 in each of the block structures I5, and the ledges orshelves 21,28 and 29 are then placed on base 3 at desired verticalintervals by means of the illustrated dowel pin connection.

A number of books, magazines, etc. may then be disposed in place, asillustrated in Fig. 1, the block structures I5 being slid sideways ineither direction to accommodate the width of such material, the blockstructures 20 being moved forwardly or backwardly to accommodate variousdepths or thicknesses of such material, while one or both of thehorizontal shelves or ledges 21 may be moved up or down to the desiredvertical position (on one or both of the illustrated levels) toaccommodate different lengths of such material. Of course, if desired,the ledges 28 and 29, one or both, at either level, may be removed topermit placing the corresponding shelf 21 at a lower level than Wouldotherwise be possible.

--As will be noted particularly from Fig. 13, the

pins I4 in each of the block structures I5 may be moved by means of theheads 26 to any desired position or distance in front of the base 3. InFig. 13, the top pair or row of pins I4 is advanced a s'uflicientdistance so that a magazine or leaflet, such as 39, may be placed on endsupported by one-pin I4 near the upper right-hand corner of a blockstructure I5, and another pin I4 near the upper left-hand corner of thenext adjacent block structure I5 on the right. I

In this way, the two pins, one in each of adjacent block structures,serve as a horizontal shelf or support for a magazine or leaflet, andthe heads 26 of the pins prevent such magazine or leaflet from slippingforwardly off the pins.

The next lower pair of pins I4 may be advanced to a greater distance infront of the base 3 and thelower pair of pins may be advanced av stillgreater distance in front of the base, as illusgamers tnatedl in Fig.13a. As: a result other. magazines or leaflets. 39aand 3911 may bepIaced -:on the corresponding pairs: of pins,- one in each of the ad'-jacent block structures IE- 'and in addition, a magazine or leaflet: 390may be-placed to rest on shelf 2'! near the outer flange 3$thereof;

In this way; it will be noted that a series or sequence of leaflets ormagazines, such as month- 1 y issues, may be placed on. the: pairs ofpins in question and the shelf 2:1 in such manner that the: pins an'dshelf provide a seriesof' steps: for supporting the magazines, leafletsor other materials at different levels with adjacent material'spartially overlapping: each other. In: this. way; the. date. of issue-oieach such magazine; which is usually displayed: near' the. top. thereof,may be; readily ascertained and at thesame timea V considerable number.of magazines or leaflets may bestacked such manner as to. require a therows or pairs of pins l4 may beutilized. as I shown in Fig. 13 tosupport diflerent sets of mag.-

azines or leaflets in. stepped sequence or,v if de- 1 sired, one suchset ofmagazines. may be stacked as: illustrated: in Fig,v l3, and the;pins M on the left-hand; side of the'illustrated left-hand blockstructure 1'5 may be: pushed in. or backwardly until. the heads: 26engage: the" front surface ofth-at' block structure 15,. after which thecorresponding. block. structure 20, which is. slidablein and out-of. thecentral large aperture I8, may be utilized to engage and. hold oneaside:of: another magazine or leaflet, as illustrated in. 1,.for example.

In this way, by suitablepositioni-ng of the block structures I and 20,the shelves 2.1,. and pins l4, any material, regardless of its length,width or thickness, .from a newspaper, for example, to. a small book,may be accommodated by reason. oi the'sideways, front andibaclcandvertical adjust.-

. ments: described above,.wh-ile at the. sameztime, in

the case. of. such books, magazines, leaflets, etc, the neighboringoradjacent material may be of a different size and. stillbe properlyaccommodatedby the proper placing of the various illustratedadjustingstructures and. shelves, and a stepped sequence of material.may alsobev provided'.

For example, by pushing, in. or removing all but the outer blockstructures l5 and 29,; a newspaper may be properly accommodated.by'restingit on one of the ledges such as the lower ledge 21 andadjusting the outer block structures; I51 and Zll to properly hold" thenewspaper; Smaller material, such: as leaflets; magazines and.boo-ksrmay be properly accommodated by placing and: adjusting a' propernumber of the: illustrated adjustable structures i5, 2i)- and 21 andpins I4 as'will be understood.

The device or support so far described may be hung on a wall or placedon the stand or=pedestal 2, as illustrated. Theped'estal' Z" is'showna's'com prising a bottom support 50 which mayhave a downwardly-slopingface 5| on. which a shelf-or ledge 52 may be provided for supportingbooks 53 or the like. A suitable horizontal block 54 may be disposed on.the. rear upper surface of support 50,. and. a plurality of verticalsupporting. members 55 and- 56 may extend. from the block. 54 to the.rear. side of. base 3..

' However, it beunderstood. that any other suitable means for.supporting or mounting the materialesupportingr device I: may-bevemployed if desired-..

- lint lieu of the" bloclr structure; 20. previouslydescribed. amodification thereof. shown. in 14.3116. 1.5 may be utilized. This'blockstructure comprises 'a main body or block member 4.0 having: a. grooved.or" otherwise. decorated.- strip ori-pl'ate" 4 l: attached. to thefrontside thereof, and the upper side of: member 40: maybe providedwitli'aespring stripz=42c held imposition by ascrew 43,. for: example-This; spring strip serves the same; frictional holding purpose aspreviously described in connection with: spring strip; 22.

Eachv vertical side. of: the member" 40 maybe prowidedz: witha: seriesof grooves 44, 45 and 46', for examine,v thus assisting; as the. blockstructure. is: moved forwardly and backwardly, in ac:- commodati ngbooks, leaflets, etcof different thicknesses. The pins.- I4; and smallapertures: [311123527 be employed as previously" described: inconnection: witlr block structures. l.5..

For: the. purpose: of. preventing accidental for ward withdrawal. of ablock structure; 20' or 40, al..tum button .311 ('see. Fig- 9). is used.at the rear of. such block structure. Thiszturn button may besuitableform, having. its length greater than. its; wi'dtln. pivoted on.the corresponding block. structure:

It: wills bee notedtthat. by disposing. the turn button; 3&- withi-tslonger. dimension in a substantially verticaldirection, the: blockstructure 2.0 or 40.: may! be. readily inserted or withdrawn, whereasif. the turn button 38. has: its; longer dimension: disposed; in a:substantially horizontal positiung, then. such disposition: will preventtheaccidental frontward withdrawal of the block smucture 2B: or 40;, assuchbutton will" engage; the sliding; block: structure l5. It will beseen, therefore. that I: have: provided; a relatively simple. buteffective support; formaterials, suchas booksrmagazinespleafiets andnewspapers, which provides: ready effective adjustment in. sideways,vertical: and: backward.- and forward directionsand in which variousparts; may be: readily moved. or removed; to; accommodate various sizesand positions of such material...

I: do not; wish. to be restricted to the specific structural.details-101;" arrangement. of parts: hereset forth aszvas'iou-s'othermodifications thereoi .maybeaefiected within the spirit and scope.of my-inyenti-onz. I desire; therefore, that only such limitations:shall; be imposed thereon as are indicateu; in; the appended claims.

liclaim as: my: invention L. A support for materialtcomprising a: base,means for effecting sideways: adjustment alongsaid base to accommodatevarious: widths: of said materials, and second: means cooperatingwithrandz movable beyond: said' first means. for effecting depthadjustments with respect to said base: to accommodate: various:thicknesses. of said material;

2*..Ar. support for: material comprising a base having a sidewaysextending; opening therein, means slidable along said opening to;accommodate'variouswidths. of. said material, and second means. slidablethrough. said. first means for effecting depth adjustments with. respectto: said base to accommodate various thicknesses or positions of said:material. a

3'. A support for material comprising a base having. a sidewaysextending opening therein, means having. an aperture extending fromfront to rear and also having a. tcng-ue-and-groove connection with saidbase: slida'ole: along said.

opening to accommodate various widths of said material, and second meansslidable forward and backward through said aperture for effecting depthadjustments with respect to.said base to accommodate various thicknessesof said material.

4. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with a rear portion ofsaid base, said means being slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, and second means slidable backward andforward through said aperture for effecting depth adjustments withrespect'to said base to accommodate various thicknesses of saidmaterial.

5. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with said base slidablealong said opening to accommodate various widths of said material, andsecond means slidable forward and backward through said aperture foreffecting depth adjustments with respect to said base to accommodatevarious thicknesses of said material, said second means having a memberdisposed in front of said base to act as a stop with respect to thebackward movement thereof and to also engage said material along oneside.

6. A support for material comprising'a base having a sideways extendingopening therein,

.means having an aperture extending from front to rear and also having atongue-and-groove connection with a rear portion of said base, saidmeans being slidable along said opening to accommodate various widths ofsaid material, and second means slidable backward and forward throughsaid aperture for effecting depth adjustments with respect to said baseto accommodate various thicknesses of said material, said second meanshaving a member disposed in front of said base to act as a stop withrespect to the backward movement thereof and to also engage saidmaterial along one side.

'7. A support for material comprising a base, means for effectingsideways adjustment along said base to accommodate various widths ofsaid material, second means cooperating with and movable beyond saidfirst means for effecting depth adjustments with respect to said base toaccommodate various thicknesses of said material, and third meanscooperating with said other means for effecting up-and-down adjustmentson said base to accommodate various lengths of said material.

8. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, second means slidable with respect tosaid first means ,for effecting depth adjustments with respect to saidbase to accommodate various thicknesses of said material, and thirdmeans cooperating with said other means for effecting up-and-downadjustments on said base to accommodate various lengths of saidmaterial.

9. A support for materia1 comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with said base slidablealong said opening to accommodate various widths of said material,second means slidable forward and backward through said aperture foreffecting depth adjustments with respect to said base to accommodatevarious thicknesses of said material, and third means engageable on saidbase at different levels to accommodate various lengths of saidmaterial.

10. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with a rear portion ofsaid base, said means being slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, second means slidable backward andforward through said aperture for effecting depth adjustments withrespect to said base to accommodate various thicknesses of saidmaterial, and third means adapted for pin-and-hole engagement atdifferent levels on said base to accommodate various lengths of saidmaterial.

11. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with said base slidablealong said opening to accommodate various widths of said material,second means slidable forward and backward through said aperture foreffecting depth adjustments with respect to said base to accommodatevarious thicknesses of said material, said second means having a memberdisposed in front of said base to act as a stop with respect to thebackward movement thereof and to also engage said material along oneside, and third means adapted for pin-and-hole engagement at differentlevels on said base to accommodate various lengths of said material.

12. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with a rear portion ofsaid base, said means being slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, second means slidable backward andforward through said aperture for effecting depth adjustments withrespect to said base to accommodate various thicknesses of saidmaterial, said second means having a member disposed in front of saidbase to act as a stop with respect to the backward movement thereof andto also engage said material along one side, and third means adapted forpin-and-hole engagement at diiferent levels on said base to accommodatevarious lengths of said material. I 13. A support for materialcomprising a base having a sideways extending opening therein, meansslidable along said opening to accommodate various widths of saidmaterial, and second means slidable with respect to said first means foreffecting depth adjustments with respect to said base to accommodatevarious thicknesses of said material, said second means having a seriesof grooves along a vertical side to assist in accommodating such variousthicknesses of material.

14. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with said base slidablealong said opening to accommodate various widths of said material, andsecond means slidable forward and backward through said aperture foreffecting depth adjustments with respect to said base-to accommodatevarious thicknesses of said material, said second means having a seriesof grooves along a vertical side to assist in accommodating such variousthicknesses of material.

15. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having an aperture extending from front to rearand also having a tongue-and-groove connection with a rear portion ofsaid base, said means being slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, and second means slidable backward andforward through said aperture for effecting depth adjustments withrespect to said base to accommodate various thicknesses of saidmaterial, said second means having a series of grooves along a verticalside to assist in accommodating such various thicknesses of material.

16. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, and a plurality of means supported byand movable forward and backward with respect to said first means tosupport material at different distances from said base.

1'7. A support for material comprising a base having a sidewaysextending opening therein, means having a plurality of aperturesextending from front to rear and also having a tongue-andgrooveconnection with said base slidable along said opening to accommodatevarious widths of said material, and a plurality of second meansslidable forward and backward through said apertures to support materialat different distances from said base.

18. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein,

project different distances from said base to pro vide a series of stepsfor supporting materials at different levels with adjacent materialspartially overlapping each other. 19. A support for material comprisinga base having a sideways extending opening therein, means having a largeaperture and a pluralityv various widths of said material, second meansslidable forward and backward through said large aperture for eifectingdepth adjustments with respect to said base to accommodatevariousthicknesses of said material, and a plurality of third meansslidable forward and backward through said small apertures andadjustable to project different distances from said base to pro vide aseries of steps for supporting materials at different levels withadjacent materials partially overlapping each other from front to back.

20. A support for material comprising a base having a sideways extendingopening therein, means having a large central aperture and a pluralityof small apertures surrounding said large aperture extending from frontto rear, the small apertures at different levels, and also havingatongue-and-groove connection with a rear por-' tion of said base, saidmeans being slidable alongv said opening to accommodate various widthsof said material, second means slidable backward and forward throughsaid large aperture for effecting depth adjustments with respect to saidbase to accommodate various thicknesses of said material, and aplurality of third means slidable forward and backward through saidsmall apertures and adjustable to project different distances from saidbase to provide a series of steps for supporting materials at differentlevels with adjacent materials partially overlapping each other fromfront to back, said second means and said third means being usablealternatively or together.

JOSEPH R. BARLOW.

